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.(No Model.) 2 Sheets.Sheet 1.

MERCER.

- CELL.

No. 564,311. Patented July 21, 1896.

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o. 564,311. Patented July 21, 1896'.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JAMES MERCER, OF RUMFORD FALLS, MAINE.

CELL.

SPECIFICATIONIOrming part of Letters Patent No. 564,311, dated July 21, 1896.

Application filed January 10, 1896. Serial No. 574,955. (No model.)

To all whom/it nauy concern:

. Be it known that 1, JAMES MERCER, a sub- ;jecteof the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Ruinford Falls, in the county of. Oxfordand State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cells; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has for its object to provide a cell which is especially adapted for the decomposing of salt brine bythe action of electricity andthereby generating chlorine gas .and caustic liquids; and the invention consists ina .cell constructed substantially as sho wn ,.in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a side elevation of a cell constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a central vertical section thereof; Fig. 3; a horizontal section taken through line no a: of Fig. 2; Fig.4, a sectional view showing the cell and tank in which it is placed and the wires connecting with the same.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the body of the cell, which is in the form of a'hollow cylinder of any diameter and height found best adapted to the purpose and of any suitable thickness, said body being open at the top, but temporarily closed by asuitable cover B.

The body and cover of the cell are preferably formed of baked clay or of suitable pot-' tery ware, and the upper end of the body is formed with a circumferential chamber a for containing oil, water, or other suitable liquid.

The downwardly-extending flange or rim 1) of the cover B enters the chamber a and extends into the liquid, thereby forming a sealed joint between the cover andtop of the body A to prevent the escape of the gases and render the cell air-tight.

The coverB is preferably convex, as shown,

- andis formed with two openings 0 d, one for the admission of the electric wire to connect with the electrode and the other for the connection of the pipe which is to convey the gas to the gas-main after its formation.

The upper half of the body A of the cell consists of a solid wall, while the lower half has a pluralityof upright openings e, which extend around the body, as shown in Figs. 2

opening f, through which the supply of salt will be furnished to the liquid in the interior 0f-tlie cell.

On the outside of the bodyA and directly opposite the opening f is a funnel or receptacle C, which extends upward a suitable distance to receive the salt which is fed to the opening, said tunnel or receptacle also serving as a gage or regulator in showing the amount or heighdof the liquid contained in the 06111.

On the inside of the body A directly over .the opening. f-is,.a hood .D, which extends downward from the opening a sufficient distanceto enter the liquid in the cell pr below the surface thereof.

In the employment of the funnel or receptacle. O and the hood D upon the exterior and interior of the body A, respectively, a communication'is efi'ected with the interior of the body and through the side thereof which will be perfectly air-tight in addition .to providing a gage by which the amount ,of liquid in the cell can be ascertained.

The lower portion of half of the body A has a covering or diaphragm 1], consisting of a suitable length of asbestos paper, which is wound around the exterior of the lower portion of the body to eover the openings e, the diaphragmcomprising two or more thicknesses of the asbestos paper, as shown; also a covering F,of wire netting or gauze,is used,which is placed over the covering and held in place by sectional metal clamping-bands. These clnnping-bands are preferably, of spring metal, 'each band comprising two sections H I, having at their meeting ends outwardlyextending flanges g, with holes to receive headed screws h. The screws extend through the holesin the flanges, and nuts i engagethe ends of the screws, whereby the two sections H I which form the clamping-band are tightly held around the diaphragm to retain it in place over the openings in the lower portion of the body A. These sections H- I of the clamping-band are not semicircular in form, the section II being less than a semiof unequal lengths.

circle and the section I greater thana semicircle, or, in other words, the two sections are This enables the longer section Ito be sprung into place, and being greater than a semicircle it will remain in position around the diaphragm by its own elasticity, while the shorter section H. is Secured thereto and the band drawn tight against the diaphragm by means pf the screws and nuts. V

The electrode consists of a solid carbon, as shown at G, which is preferably cylindrical in shape and of a suitable height and diameter, and is provided with a lead cap L, which forms the top, the lead cap being of any de sirable thickness and is to be connected with the electric wire.

. In i the usual tank M is shown and also the positive wire k, which wire connects with the electrode in the usual and well-known manner, the electric current entering the cell at the top, passing through the carbon and salt brine, through diaphragm of cell, thence through the caustic liquid in the tank, and leaves the same through the wire 7., which 0011- nects with the tank.

The upper portion of the electrode" G is covered with asbestos paper, as shown at K, which extends down a suflicient distance to be below the surface line of the liquid, thus protecting the carbon at the surface line from the more intense chemical action which takes place at that point, and which would produce the feeding of salt, funnel or receptacle upon the outside of the bedy and surrounding said opening, and a hood upon the inside of the body opposite the opening, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

2. A cell consisting of a suitable body having an opening through its side, a fnnnebor body and over the openings composed, of

asbestos paper, and. a wire gauze or netting, the same being held to the body by clampingbands, each band being composed of two un;

equal sections detachably connected together at their ends by screws and nuts, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4., A cell consisting of a suitable body, a coyer therefor and means whereby said cover may be herm etically sealed, openings through the walls of the body at the lower portion thereof, a suitable diaphragm secured around. and over the openings, an electrode formed of carbon, a lead cap secured upon the end thereof, and a covering of asbestos paper around said electrode, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

5. ,A cell consisting of ,a suitable body, coyer therefor and means forhermetically sealingit, opening through said body at the lower portion thereof, a, diaphragm comprisinga covering of asbestos paper anda covering of wire gauze or netting secured over and around the openings by sectional clam-pingbands, an opening through the wall of the body for the feeding of salt, and a funnel or receptacle and a hood upon the exterior and interior of the body respectively and on a line opposite the opening, substantially as 'and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that "I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES MERCER.

\Vitnesses:

ARErosE. STEARNS, RUssELL. H. DEARBORN. 

